Gearing for starting internal-combustion engines



Feb. 24. 1925. 1,527,588

w. o. KENNINGTON GEARING FOR STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed llay 13 1915 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES: 7 nwnv ran C G O BY W I ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1925.

W. O. KENNINGTON GEARING FOR STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 13, 1915 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WI T NE 885 8.

A TTORNEYS Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM O. KENNINGTON, F ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO ECLIPSE MACHINE COMPANY, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A. GORIORATION OF NEW YORK.

GEARING FOR STARTING INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed May 18, 1915. Serial No. 27,876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM O. KENNING TUN, a subject of King George V of England, and a resident of Anderson, county of Madison, and State of Indiana, U. SIAQ.

have invented a certain new and; useful Gearing for Starting Internal-Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

The object of this invention is to providean improved starter for internal combustion engines in which a shaft carrying a pinion which is automatically moved, when the shaft of the starter is driven, into open ative engagement with means for actuating and starting the engine. and which, after the engine has been started and its speed exceeds that of the shaft of the starter, moves out of said operative engagement with the engine, into its normal or idle position. Its return movement is due to the engine driving the pinion faster than the shaft on which the pinion is mounted. After the pinion left the gear, its momentum keeps it turmng faster than the shaft, so that the pinion travels away from the gear and produces clearance between the gear and the inion.

In connection with the foregoingt c invention consists in means for retarding the revolution of the pinion, as compared with the rotation of its shaft so that it will be induced to travel along said shaft, said shaft being threaded so that the pinion can travel along the same when their angular movements vary.

The invention also includes the provision of means for cushioning or yieldingly stop ping the pinion in its travel along said shaft so as to cushion the shaft of the mechanism when starting the engine.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a portion of the forward end of an automobilewith this invention installed thereon. Fig. 2isavertical longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 6. Fig. 3 is a plan view on a larger scale of the left-hand portion of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, on a large scale, with the driving pinion disengaged and in its inoperative position. Fig. 5 shows the same, but with the pinion in mesh with the driving gear. F i 6 is a left-hand elevation of a portion 0 Fig. l.

In detail there is shown in the drawings a portion of the front end of an automobile having an internal combustion engine 10 mounted thereon and adapted'to drive an electric machine 11 for furnishing current for charging a battery 12 or for other uses, such as ignition, lighting, etc. and by suitable means, hereafter described, the current from the storage battery may be used for driving the electric machine as a motor for the purpose of starting the engine. As shown in Fig. 2, a shaft 13 of the electric machine which carrics the usual armature winding 14 and commutator 15, has bearings within the frame 16 of the machine and extends beyond the same upon either end. A gear 17 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 13 to the right of the frame 16 and is secured against longitudinal movement thereon. by a collar 18 and a ratchet 19 secured to said shaft. Pawls 20 are mounted upon studs 21 screwed into the gear 17 and are pressed into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 19 by means of the springs 121 also mounted upon said gear. The gear 17 meshes with a gear 22, as shown in Fig. 3, upon the right-hand end of the shaft 23. Upon the other end of the shaft 23 there is a gear 24 meshing with a gear 25 upon the crank shaft 125 of the engine. The particular means for driving the shaft 23 from the crank shaft is immaterial to this invention as it may be driven in many different ways, either directly or through intermediate gearing.

Near the left-hand end, the shaft 13 has an externally threaded portion 26 and the extreme outer end of the shaft is reduced in diameter. An internally threaded pinion 27 is screwed onto the threaded portion 26 of the shaft 13 and its movement to the left towards the end of the shaft is limited by means of a collar 28 which surrounds the shaft and'is free to slide thereon. A collar 29 is secured upon the end of the shaft with a spring 30 surrounding the shaft and lyin between the collars 28 and 29, said collars on spring serving as a spring buffer to gradually stop the outward movement of the pinion 27. As shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5, to the right-hand end of the pinion 27, arms 31 are pivoted and spiings 32 tend to draw the arms toward the position shown 1n Fig. 2. The free ends of said arms 31 bear against a collar or projection 39 from the frame 16, for the purpose hereafter de scribed. I

The operation of the invention is as follows:

When the engine 10 is at rest, the various parts will assume the position shown n Fig. 3, in which the pinion 27 and gear 24 are out of mesh. When it is desiredto start the engine, electric ener y is sup lied from storage battery 12 to t e electric machine 11, causing it to rotate the shaft 13 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fi 6. The ends of the arms 31 being held by t e sprin 32 against the projection or collar 39, tend to produce a sh ht friction and retard or prevent the rotation of the pinion 27. Thus the rotation of the shaft 13 will cause the pinion 27 to travel along the threaded end 26 of said shaft and into mesh with the gear 24 and through the gear 25 will turn the crank shaft 125 in the engine, and allow the engine to be started. The teeth of the pinion 27 and of the gear 2% are preferably chamfered upon the ends upon which they engage to allow the engagement to take place more readily. After their engagement the pinion continues to travel longitudinally of the shaft 13 until it strikes the. buffer collar 28 which gradually stops its further movement. This brings the parts to the positions shown in Fig. 5. During this movement of the shaft 13, the pawls 20 have allowed the ratchet 19 to turn without turning the gear 17. The ability of the collar 28 to yield permits such further movement of the pinion 27 on shaft 13 as may be necessary to cushion the shock due to the strain of the starting gear 24 and the engine. The pinion 27 will not start gear 24 until the pinion is thus yieldingly stop ed by collar 28. This permits some play etween the shaft 13 and the starting means.

As soon as the engine starts and be ins to run by its own power, its speed rapi ly increases and the pinion 27, driven by gear 24, revolves faster than the shaft 13. This increase of speed by the pinion 27 over that of the shaft 13 will cause said pinion to return alon the threaded portion 26 of the shaft unti it is out of mesh with the gear 24, after which the shaft 13 will be driven from the shaft 23 through the gears 22 and 17 and the ratchet 19. The extreme righthand movement of the pinion will be stopped by the 00 r 39.

The design of the ears is such that the motgpr will revolve re atively fast compared wi the engine during the starting period,

but when the engine is started and it is desired to drive the electric machine as a enerator for the generation of current, t e ratio of speed between the engine and the electric machine should be much lower than that during the starting 0 eration and the gears 17 and 22 are d signed accordingly. Thus the engine cannot drive the electric machine at an excessive speed and injurethe machine or its gearing. By the time the pinion is disengaged, the arms 31 have moved outward against the action of the springs 32, due to centrifugal force, and they remain in this position while the electric machine is driven as a generator. Since these arms are out of contact with the collar 39 while the electric machine is thus driven, they do not retard the rotation of the pinion and cause it to travel into mesh with the gear 24.

The invention claimed is:

1. A starter for gas engines and the like, comprising in com ination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a shaft driven thereby, a driving member adapted to engage and drive the engine member but norma ly out of engagement therewith, said driving member being mounted on the shaft and having screw threaded engagement therewith whereby ro- YT tation of the shaft advances such driving member into engagement with the engine member, and means for ieldingly stopping said driving member and thus permitting it to yield and cushion the shock of starting the engine member.

2. A starter for gas engines and the like, comprising in combinationwith a member operatively connected with the engine, an electric motor including its armature shaft, a screw threaded shaft in line with the armature shaft and driven thereby, a driving member adapted to engage and drive the engine member but normally out of engagement therewith, said driving member being mounted on the screw threaded shaft and having means for engaging the latter where' by operation of the motor advances the driving member into engagement with the engine member, and a spring resisting means for yieldingly stopping the travel of said driving member on said shaft.

3. A starter for gas engines and the like comprising in combination with a toothed wheel operated by the engine, a driving pinion adapted to cooperate with and drive said wheel, a shaft having a thread and the pinion havin a threaded opening whereby the latter is capable of a longitudinal movement on the shaft, a motor operatively connected with the shaft. and means for yieldingly stopping said driving pinion so as to cushion the shock of starting the engine operated wheel. 4. A starter for gas engines and the like Ti l comprising in combination with a gear wheel operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a shaft driven by the motor and having screw threads for a portion of its length and a\yielding stop shoulder at one end of said threads, and a pinion mounted on the shaft and having a bore engaging said threads, for longitudinal movement relative to the shaft when rotated, the rotation of the shaft advancing the pinion into mesh with the wheel and the subsequent rotation of the pinion when exceeding that of the shaft withdrawing the pinion from mesh 5. A gear, a shaft provided with a threaded portion extending near said gear, a pinion loosely mounted on the threaded portion of said shaft so that when the shaft is revolved said pinion will travel into en gagement with the gear, means mounted in connection with said pinion tending to retard the initial revoluble movement thereof, and a yielding collar for limiting the advance movement of said pinion.

6. In a gas engine starting apparatus the combination with the engine of a gear operating therewith, a shaft provided with a threaded portion extending near said gear, a threaded pinion mounted on said shaft and adapted in one position to mesh with said gear, frictional means for retarding said pinion when the threaded shaft isstarted to cause the pinion to travel thereon, said means operating by centrifugal forceto relieve the friction when the pinion is turning.

7. In a gas engine starting apparatus, the combination with the engine of a gear operating therewith, a shaft provided with a threaded portion extending near said gear. a threaded pinion mounted on said shaft and adapted in one position to mesh with said gear, frictional means for retarding said pinion when the threaded shaft is started to cause the pinion to travel thereon, said means comprising a fixed hub surrounding the shaft. pivoted arms connected with the pinion and a spring for normally holding said arms in engagement with said hub. v

8. A starter for gas engines and the like, comprising in combination with a member operatively connected with the engine. a motor. a shaft driven thereby, a driving member adapted to engage and drive the engine member. but normally out of engagement therewith, said driving member being mounted on the shaft and having a screwthreaded engagement therewith whereby rotation of the shaft advances such driving member into engagement with the engine member. and a spring for yieldingly stopping said driving member in its travel in ne direction along said shaft.

0. In combination with a starting motor and a rotatable member of an engine to be started, a driving connection interposed between the motor and engine member and ineluding yicldable means for limiting the deceleration of the starting motor.

10. In combination with a starting motor and a rotatable member of an engine to be started, a driving connection interposed between the motor and engine member and including a driving member movable into driving relation with said engine member and means automatically yieldable in conformity with the resistance of the engine member to rotation for gradually building up torque to overcome said resistance.

11. In combination with a starting motor and a rotatable member of an engine to be started, a driving connection interposed between the motor and engine member and including a. driving member movable into driving relation with said engine member and also including means permitting tl motor to be accelerated before the establishment of the driving relation, and means prolonging the period during which initial torque is built up to include time subsequent to the establishment of the driving relation.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of starting means and a rotatable member of the engine to be started, a driving connection interposed between said means and engine member and including a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof into engagment with the engine member, and means for building up the torque beyond the normal torque of the starting means.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of starting means and a rotatable member of an engine to be started, a drivin connection interposed between said starting means and engine member and including a screw-threaded shaft, a pinion threaded thereon for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof into engagement with the engine member, and means comprising a spring for building up the torque beyond the normal torque of the starting means.

14. In combination with a starting motor and with a rotatable member of an engine to be started, a driving connection interposed between the motor and engine member and normally disengaged from the engine member, said driving connection including means which yield by reason of the trans mission of torque through such connection to build up torque beyon the normal torque of the motor.

15. In combination with a starting motor and with a rotatable member of an engine to be started, a driving connection interposed between the motor and engine member and including a shaft rotated by the mot r, a driving member mounted on said shaft for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith,

said shaft having a 17. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, 9. driving member mounted for longitudinal movement thereof and retary movement therewith, speed-controlled means adapted to retard the rotation of the 'vin member, said means being mounted upon tie driving member, and a fixed part with which such means cooperate.

18. An engine starter drive-including a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted for longitudinal movement thereof and rr.-- ta movement therewith, and speed-contro ed means adapted to retard the rotation of the driving member, said means comprising a spring-pressed arm mounted upon the ving member and a fixed part with which such means cooperate.

19. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a driving member moun ed for longitudinal movement thereof and rota movement therewith, and speed'contro led means adapted to retard the rotation of the driving member. said means comprising a pair of arms mounted upon the driving member, and a fixed part, such arms being yieldingly held against said fixed part when the driving member is not rotatin 20. In a device of the character c iescribed, the combination of an engine, a rotatable member connected thereto, a motor-generator, differential gearing connecting the engine and motor-generator at one ratio for startin the engine by the motor-generator and a 'fl'erent ratio for operating the motor-generator by the engine, and means for automatically disconnecting the gearing for driving the engine including a screw-shaft driven by the motor-generator and a pinion thereon. which is automatically engaged with and disengaged from said rotatable member.

21. In a device of the character described, the combination of an engine, a rotatable member connected thereto, a motor generator, a screw-shaft driven thereby, means carried by said screw-shaft for driving sai-l rotatable member from said motor-generator, and connections on the other side of said motor-generator for driving the same from said engine.

22. In a device of the character described, the combination of an engine, a rotatable member connected thereto, a motor'gcnerator, a screw-shaft driven thereby, means carried by said screw-shaft for driving said rotatable member from said motor-generator, and-connections on the other side of said motor-generator automatically rendered o1:- erative for driving the same from said onglne.

23. In a device of the character described, the combination of an engine, a rotatable member connected thereto, a motor-genera tor, a screw-shaft driven thereby, means car ried by said screw-shaft for driving said rotatable member from said motor-generator. said means being automaticall enga ed with and disengaged from sai rotatable member, and gearing on the other side of said motor-generator for driving the same from said engine.

24. In a device of the character described, the combination of an engine, a rotatable member connected thereto, a motor-generator, a screw-shaft driven thereby, means carried by said screw-shaft for driving said rotatable member from said motor-generator, said means being automatically enga d with and disengaged from said rotata le member, and separate connections between the en inc and the motor-generator automatiaifiy rendered operative for driving the latter from the former.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM O. KENNINGTON.

Witnesses:

Fnanmn P. MoDnmuo'rr, Jr., Gno. SHAW.

free rotary movement and said driving memher a free longitudinal movement prior to the eng ement of the latter with the enine mem er, and means for yieldingly limiting the movement of said driving member durin the period of transition from the Inngitudmal to the rotary movement.

16. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted for longitudinal movement thereof and rota movement therewith, and speed-contro ed means adapted to retard the rotation of the driving member.

17. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted for longitudinal movement thereof and 1'0- .tary

movement therewith, speed-controlled means adapted to retard the rotation of the drivin member, said means being mounted upon 51s driving member, and a fixed part with which such means cooperate.

18. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted for longitudinal movement thereof and reta movement therewith, and speed-contro ed means adapted to retard the rotation of the driving member, said means comprising a spring-ggressed arm mountcd upon the drlving mem r and a fixed part w1th which such means cooperate.

19. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a driving member moun ed for longitudinal movement thereof and reta movement therewith, and speed-contrc illed means adapted to retard the rotation of the driving member. said means comprising a pair of arms mounted upon the driving member, and a fixed part, such arms being yieldingly held against said fixed part when the driving member is not rotating.

20. In a device of the character described, the combination of an engine, a rotatable member connected thereto, a motor-generator, differential gearing connecting the engine and motor-generator at one ratio for starting the engine by the motor-generator and a ifi'erent ratio for operating the motor-generator b the engine, and means for automatically isconnecting the gearing for driving the engine including a screw-shaft driven by the motor-generator and a pinion DISCLA thereon which is automatically enga ed with and disengaged from said rotataile member.

21. In a device of the character described, the combination of an engine, a rotatable member connected thereto, a motor generator, a screw-shaft driven thereby, means carried by said screw-shaft for driving said rotatable member from said motor-generator, and connections on the other side of said motor-generator for driving the same from said engine. 7

22. In a device of the character described, the combination of an engine, a rotatable member connected thereto, a motor-gcnerw tor, a screw-shaft driven thereby, means carried by said screw-shaft for driving said rotatable member from said motor-generator, and'connections on the other side of said motor-generator automatically rendered o erative for driving the same from said on;

gme.

23. In a device of the character described, the combination of an engine, a rotatable member wnnected thereto, a motor-generator, a screw-shaft driven thereby, means carried by said screw-shaft for driving said rotatable member from said motor-generator. said means being automaticall enga ed with and disenga ed from sai rotatzible member, and gearing on the other side of said motor-generator ,for driving the same from said engine.

24. In a device of the character described, the combination of an engine, a rotatable member connected thereto, a motor-generator, a screw-shaft driven thereby, means carried by said screw-shaft for driving said rotatable member from said motor-generator, said means being automatically enga d with and disengaged from said rotata 1e member, and separate connections between the en inc and the motor-generator auto mati y rendered operative for driving the latter from the former.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM O. KENNINGTON.

Witnesses:

FRANKLIN P. MCDERMOTI, Jr., Gno. SHAW.

IMEIR 1,527,588.William O. Kennington, Anderson, Ind. GEARlNG -FOR STARTING IN'rEnNA'bCoMBUs'rIoN ENGINES. clalmer filed March 26, 1937, by th Patent.

[Qflic'ial Gazette April 20, 1937.

Patent dated February 24, 1925. Dise asslgnee, Eclipse Machine Company.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 9 to 14, inclusive, of said Letters DISCLAIMER 1,527,588.Willidm O. Kennington, Anderson, Ind. GEARING FOR STARTING INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES. Patent dated February 24, 1925. Disclaimer filed March 26, 1937, by the assignee, Eclipse Machine Company.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 9 to 14, inclusive, of said Letters Patent.

[Oflicial Gazette April 20, 1937.] 

